Recessed Lighting for Your Bathroom

If you want to increase the light in your bathroom without taking up extra space, you might want to consider bathroom recessed lighting, which is housed in a fixture installed in a cavity in the ceiling. These lights, also called downlights or can lights, also have light bulbs that last longer than standard ones and can increase the energy efficiency of your home. Continue reading to learn more about bathroom recessed lighting, including how much it costs, the types that are available, and the benefits of choosing this light fixture option.

Bathroom Recessed Lighting: The Basics

Bathroom recessed lighting is a stylish option that can help increase the illumination in the room, particularly in areas such as the tub, sink, and toilet. This can make the bathroom a lot more comfortable, because a single light just won’t do the job to provide the brightness you need in all areas of the room.

This ability to light up an entire bathroom, as well as not take up extra space, is one of the reasons bathroom recessed lighting is a popular choice among homeowners for bathroom remodel projects. In addition, this type of lighting has versatile options and can improve the overall look of the bathroom, which is particularly helpful if you have a smaller one. Some of the most common areas for bathroom recessed lighting include over mirrors, showers, tubs, and toilets.

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Pros and Cons of Recessed Lighting

Bathroom recessed lighting may seem like a good idea right now, but don’t forget to consider the benefits, as well as the drawbacks, of choosing these types of light fixtures. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons.

Pros

The following are some of the advantages of getting bathroom recessed lighting:

Lights are hidden. One benefit of these lights is that they aren’t as noticeable since they don’t hang down from the wall. As a result, they don’t take up extra space in your bathroom like hanging light fixtures do, which makes for a sleeker, more modern look.

Good for low ceilings. If your bathroom ceiling is low and you’re concerned about people bumping into a light fixture hanging from the wall, or you want to maximize the space you have, the hidden nature of recessed lighting is the perfect solution for these issues.

Good for wet areas. Recessed lighting is perfect for the bathroom because it’s rated for wet areas, so you don’t have to worry when water from the shower splashing on the fixtures. This is because these lights have sealed lenses, so they’re not affected by droplets of water or vapor from the shower.

Cons

Now that you know some of the good reasons to get bathroom recessed lighting, take a look at some of the disadvantages you should be aware of.

Multiple fixtures may be necessary. Bathroom recessed lighting can only illuminate one specific area underneath it, much like a spotlight, so if you want to light up the entire room, you’ll probably need multiple fixtures to accomplish that. However, in some cases you may be able to get angled lights that can be rotated so you can move them to focus on specific areas. In that case, multiple fixtures may not be needed.

Energy leaks. If you’re concerned about energy efficiency, then bathroom recessed lighting may not be the right choice for you. Since these fixtures can create holes in the ceiling, they may allow air to escape that can impact energy costs.

Installation is complicated. Since electrical wiring and insulation in the bathroom are involved in the installation process, this is a tricky job that DIYers probably should steer clear of. Also, because of the complex process involved in installing these light fixtures, the labor charges for this project may add up.

Cost of Recessed Lighting for Bathrooms

On average, the bathroom recessed lighting cost ranges between $69 and $126 per fixture, making this home improvement project well worth the investment. There are several factors that can impact the price of this project, including the material your ceiling is made from, the wiring that needs to be done for installation, the type of house you have, and any customizations you choose. In addition, the cost of labor will vary depending on the complexity of the project, and you may need to obtain a permit for recessed lighting installation if new circuits have to be added to your home’s wiring system.

You may be able to keep costs down if you have new lights installed in an area where fixtures and wiring are already present, so new electrical systems don’t have to be installed. Doing the project yourself can also save you money, however, this can be a complicated job, even for a skilled DIYer, so it may be best to enlist the help of a professional.

Types of Recessed Lighting

Depending on your needs, there are different types of bathroom recessed lighting options you can choose from. The following is some basic information you should know about each one.

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General Lighting

If you want to illuminate an entire bathroom, general lighting will allow you to see every nook and cranny of the room. To achieve this, these light fixtures should be placed 4 feet apart. Any less than that, and you’ll run the risk of creating shadows in certain parts of the bathroom, and placing the fixtures further than 5 feet apart will create dark areas that prevent you from seeing everything.

Installing full recessed lighting in a bathroom typically costs between $150 to $250 per fixture, with total costs varying based on the number of lights and complexity of the installation.

Task Lighting

Task lighting allows you to have a controlled stream of light in a specific area. That makes this type of bathroom recessed lighting a great choice if you want something to light up a vanity mirror or the shower. However, keep in mind that when used with a vanity mirror, task lighting can create shadows, so you may want to choose an LED mirror or staunch lighting for this area instead. Also, when choosing task lighting for the shower, remember that it needs to be wet rated since water may splash onto the light bulbs.

The cost for task-specific recessed lighting in a bathroom usually ranges from $100 to $200 per fixture, depending on the style and complexity of the installation.

Accent Lighting

If you want to spotlight something specific in your bathroom, such as an architectural feature or wall art, accent lighting allows you to target direct beams of light in that direction. In order to create ambience that accentuates what you want to spotlight, you can dim accent lighting or turn certain lightbulbs in the fixture on and off.

Accent recessed lighting in a bathroom, designed to highlight specific areas or features, typically costs between $150 to $300 per fixture, influenced by the light type and installation requirements.

The type of recessed lighting you choose depends on the size of your bathroom and what you want to accomplish. Smaller fixtures, which may be about 3 inches in diameter, are best for small bathrooms, as well as specific areas like a changing nook. For larger bathrooms, the light fixture can be about 6 inches in diameter and you may need multiple fixtures spaced out to light up the entire room.

There are several factors you should think about when choosing bathroom recessed lighting, such as the look and style of the fixtures, the bulb type and temperature in the fixtures, where you’d like to place them, and the layout of the bathroom. And of course, recessed lighting cost should also play a role in your decision making, so keep in mind how much work your contractor will need to do, such as rewiring, as you choose which type of lights you want.

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The Bottom Line

There are many good reasons to get bathroom recessed lighting installed in your home, but it’s important to make an informed choice because there are downsides to these products — and some of those downsides may end up being costly. The lighting costs may be pricier than other options because of the complex installation process, as well as the impact these lights can have on your energy costs. Homeowners need to carefully weigh the pros and cons to determine if the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

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